The Second Season: The NHL Playoffs

(Video accessed from The Best of the NHL) 

Yet another regular season has come to an end in the NHL and boy was it a good one. Now as a Leafs fan it wasn't the best of times, but there was still plenty of highlight reel plays and suspenseful games that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is safe to say that this season did not disappoint.

This year had one of the tightest races for the scoring title in recent history. It came down to the last day of the season before we knew who would take home the Art Ross Trophy. Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars eventually won it after beating out John Tavares by one point. This was the first time since the 2003-04 season that no one scored more than 100 points in a full 82-game season. While that fact may be a little disappointing, there was still many players who had outstanding seasons. Vladimir Tarasenko, Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Hammond are just a few examples of guys who had a breakout year. The rise of this new talent can only make us excited for upcoming years. 

Now that the regular season is done teams must either pack up their equipment for the summer or prepare for the playoffs. I unfortunately lost a best to my friend and now have to "cheer" for the New York Rangers. They made it all the way to the finals last year and were the best team in the league this year so they just might have a good chance. The same can't be said about the team they lost to in the finals though (the Los Angeles Kings). They didn't qualify for the playoffs. This is the first time in eight years that the defending champions didn't make it. Canadian fans will be happy to note that five of the seven teams located in the Great White North did make it. This will undoubtedly bring excitement to fans across the county. 

The Stanley Cup

Based on how the regular season ended, one can only assume the playoffs are going to be intense. The last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference were determined on the last day of the season. This is thanks in large part due to the Ottawa Senators "Cinderella Story". They went on an unbelievable run and fought their way into the playoffs after having a less than impressive start to the season. 

With that being said, any team that made the playoffs deserves to be there. I am just looking forward to seeing the best hockey there is. This is what these men dedicate their lives for. Playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is something every hockey player dreams of and only a few get the chance to do it.

Will Ferrell: The new face of the MLB?

Collage of Will Ferrell with his 10 different teams (Courtesy of MLB)

Spring training is a time when MLB teams prepare for the upcoming season. This is also an opportunity for young ball players to make a name for themselves in hopes of being on the opening day roster. However, yesterday a well-known celebrity took to the field and showed what he was made of. That somebody was actor and comedian, Will Ferrell. 


Now those who are big fans of his films should not worry about his acting career being over. As part of an HBO special from Funny or Die, Ferrell managed to play for 10 teams and played every single position on the field. These teams consisted of the Athletics, Mariners, Angels, Cubs, D-backs, Reds, White Sox, Giants, Dodgers and Padres. He even took the reigns as base coach during his short-lived MLB career. Throughout the entire day, he never broke character. He acted as if he actually was a professional baseball player. The players and fans loved every moment and it made for a great day. 


While Ferrell's professional career was a joke, the reasoning behind it was not. The whole day was focused on a campaign to raise money for cancer. Items use by Will Ferrell during the games will be up for auction on mlb.mlb.com/home with proceeds going to Stand Up to Cancer and Cancer for College. I tip my hat off to not only Will Ferrell, but to the MLB as well. With Will Ferrell's celebrity and the popularity of professional baseball, this was an amazing way to support a cause that is near and dear to many of us.

(Short clip of Will Ferrell's day in the MLB  courtesy of UPROXX)

Bills and Eagles make big trade

LeSean McCoy as a Philadelphia Eagle

As I am on vacation this week I have been doing my best to keep updated with sports. I was watching ESPN one night and I learned the Buffalo Bills have agreed on a trade where they will acquire LeSean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles while they give up Kiko Alonso.

This trade had many football fans scratching their heads as they wondered what in the world the Eagles were thinking. McCoy is one of the best running backs in the entire NFL and will be a hard talent to replace. With that being said, they are getting a pretty good linebacker in Kiko Alonso. He was a candidate for Rookie of the Year award in his first season but missed all of last year due to injury.

Kiko Alonso trying to make a tackle

As a Buffalo Bills fan, I like the move. For starters, the team had a good defense in 2014, and that was without Alonso. I am confident they can repeat last year's performance without him. The team had a solid running back tandem in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. However, both missed a considerable amount of time last year due to injuries. The offence did struggle and probably was the reason the team lost some games.

The addition of McCoy will give Buffalo the opportunity of having an elite running back. The only downfall I can see from this is that Spiller will not be with the team next year due to McCoy's large salary. While it is a tough loss, McCoy and Jackson should be able to make a big impact together. At the end of the day you have to take chances and make sacrifices if you want to succeed. 

Every rose has its thorn: The Derrick Rose injury story

Derrick Rose favouring his knee

Chicago Bulls' point guard, Derrick Rose, has once again suffered a knee injury. The former first overall pick and NBA MVP has had his fair share of bad luck lately. Revered as one of the league's best (if not the best) point guards in his prime, Rose has experienced three serious injuries in three years. 

The man could fake out any opponent with his smooth crossovers, sink three-point shots with ease and even drive to the net and put the ball home with a slam dunk. Regardless of what team you cheer for, if Derrick Rose was playing you were hoping for a highlight reel play. As a fan of all sports, I live for moments like those. I want to see the best athletes in the world do the thing they love the most.

Derrick Rose preparing for a shot

With that being said, I am quite upset to receive the news of his injury. Even as someone who supports the Raptors (a conference rival), I hate to see talented athletes go through this type of situation. It leaves all of us fans to wonder, "What if...?", and that is something I cannot get over. For all we know, Derrick Rose could have had numerous MVP caliber seasons during his injuries. He could have even helped his team win a championship or two. 

At the age of 26, there is still much potential for him to flourish in this league for a long time. Given the fact that his season is in jeopardy, I can only expect that he takes his time during his recovery. All I can say is that I hope this is the last of the injury problems for Derrick Rose. 

No trade needed for Raptors

Terrence Ross, Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan

Yet another NBA trade deadline has come and gone and Canada's only team did not make a single move. Many teams look at this day as a way to beef up their roster with more talent and make a strong push for the playoffs. Adding that one key player could be all it takes to take your team to the next level. However, given how well the Toronto Raptors have played this year there was no need for them to make a trade. 

Toronto Raptors logo

The team currently sits at second place in the Eastern Conference and is well on its way to making the playoffs for a second straight season. With the likes of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan leading a team that has a solid roster, no one should be surprised by the lack of a trade. The team is doing fine the way they are now. Just as the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The Raptors have made it to the playoffs six times in the history of their franchise. Only once has the team made it past the first round. Based on how they have performed this year I have great confidence that they will have no problems making it deep in the playoffs. With that being said, I will do everything in my ability to make it down to Jurassic Park and cheer on Canada's team. 

Ray Rice: Breaking the Silence

Janay Palmer and Ray Rice discussing assault case

Many months after an incident that lead to a PR disaster for the NFL, Ray Rice has finally spoken out. For those who are unaware, Rice was caught on tape physically assaulting his wife in a hotel elevator. This lead his team, the Baltimore Ravens, to release him and he was eventually suspended indefinitely by the NFL. He went on to miss the entire 2014 season, even after he had been reinstated into the league in November. In Rice's statement he thanked the city of Baltimore for supporting him and apologized to the fans for his actions. He finally went on to say he hopes everyone can find a way to forgive him as he continues to move on and make an attempt to comeback to the NFL.

Tiger Woods and Michael Vick

If you look in the past there have been many athletes whose reputations have been questioned based on poor decisions. Look no further than Tiger Woods and Michael Vick. Woods was once the golden boy of golf until he was caught having numerous affairs. This lead to an indefinite leave from the game. Since his return, he still receives a large following on the course. Now Vick on the other hand is a different story. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL but was found guilty of organizing a dog fighting ring and did time in prison. However, upon his release he would eventually be signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and all seemed to be forgotten. 

Ray Rice's future in the NFL is something that will be in question until next season. Not only does he make poor choices off the field, but his performance on the field has diminished as well. Many people want him gone for good, but based on the past it should come as no surprise to see him play next year. Regardless of the outcome, I have lost a lot of respect for him.

Oh how the mighty have fallen

Ever since I can remember I have been a proud supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the early years things were great and the team excelled. However, as the saying goes, "Things change". It has not been the best of times for the franchise as it has only seen the playoffs once since the 2003-04 season. Even that lone playoff birth ended in heartbreak. 

Jump ahead to this year. The team had its typical start as one of the best teams in the league only to lose their composure mid-season. Now the Leafs are on the verge of setting a team record. If they lose tonight, they will have gone 11 games without a win. The current record is held by the 1967 team that lost 10 straight. Ironically, that was the last time the team won the Stanley Cup.  

Many fans have become upset and jumped to another team. As bad as it has been, I will remain loyal. I anxiously await the results of tonight's game and can only hope that the team gets that win they so desperately need. Given the team's current position in the standings a lot of fans want them to lose and try to get a good draft pick for next year. Draft picks are good and all, but losing isn't much fun.

Based on how the team has performed, reaching the playoffs seems impossible. Here you can see a little sample of how important the Maple Leafs being in the playoffs is to fans. I can only wish to experience moments like this in the near future.





(My apologies for the unsteady camerawork. I was a little excited) 

What is this blog about?

If you haven't already guessed, this blog is about professional sports. More specifically those that are played in North America. This will include the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB as they are viewed as the top four leagues in the continent. I will be providing insight on current events, stories and issues that are of interest to me from all four of the leagues. The perspective will be from a 20 something Canadian male who is obsessed with sports at the professional level. 

Professional sports are going to be the area of focus because there always seems to be some sort of action going on even when the season has concluded. Teams relocate, rules get changed and players make headlines whether it be for the right or wrong reasons. Being the huge sports junkie I am, I tend to have opinions on a lot of these topics.

I like nothing more than to sit down with someone and talk about sports until the cows come home. Unfortunately, that someone is not always available. Lucky for me there are such things called blogs where I can express my thoughts and feelings to the entire world. In turn, I hope to gain some feedback from people with similar interest and differing opinions in order to shed some light on other perspectives that I may not be aware of. This will hopefully generate some in-depth conversations and keep me informed on all the latest news in professional sports.